When time off from work is limited, families must carefully plan and safeguard their vacations to ensure the break from reality will be pleasant, relaxing and joyous for all involved. Some families choose to go off on their own; in such cases, the planning is typically orchestrated by mom or dad and the personal interactions will be predictable. Other families choose to join friends or relatives in a group vacation for added fun and excitement. Multi-family getaways are less predictable and have greater potential for chaos, so the wise women of Knoxville Moms have come together to offer sound advice on the dos and don’ts of traveling with other families.
When planning a joint vacation with friends or relatives, consider the following:
- DO discuss everyone’s financial priorities before planning the trip. Know what each family is willing to spend before selecting a location, hotel, or property. There is no sense in making plans if budgets are not aligned.
- DO appoint or elect an organizer. Having one contact person helps make plans run more smoothly. However, it does not mean that one person gets to make all the decisions. The point-person takes into account the wishes of the masses, streamlines information, offers options, collects funds, and/or finalizes the plan.
- DO discuss how communication will take place. Email? Group text? Who wants to be included? Some may find group chats about vacation plans a highlight to their day. Others may find them irritating and unnecessary.
- DO consider age ranges. Plan activities according to the ages of the people attending. If you have a lot of toddlers, vacation plans will look different from a group of adults and teens. If you have a mix, discuss optimal ways to entertain everyone.
- DO plan for alone time or individual family time, if desired. Big groups can be loads of fun, but can be overwhelming for longer periods of time.
- DO consider a trial run for first time group vacationers. Maybe go for a long weekend or four-day jaunt before committing to a full week’s vacation.
- DO make meal plans before the trip. How many times will you go out? Can you make reservations ahead of time? If you stay in, who will cook? Will families take turns? Are there food restrictions or allergies? How will you cover expenses? Will you shop upon arrival or bring the food with you? There is not one correct way, but it is important to know before you go so you can avoid unexpected responsibilities or expenses.
- DO propose a method for separating alcohol expenses. The cost of beverages can add up, whether ordered at a restaurant or purchased for your in-house consumption. If participants do not drink alcohol, find a way to make them exempt from contributions to alcohol purchases.
- DO keep in mind that different people have different energy levels and interests. Not everyone has to participate in every event and restaurant night. It is okay for families to pass on an event with no hard feelings.
Based on the experience of many wise Knoxville Moms, here are a few things to avoid:
- DON’T accept IOUs for payment. All payments should be received by an established deadline.
- DON’T assume everyone should wake up and go to sleep at the same time. Establishing quiet hours is a good alternative.
- DON’T cater to the loudest complainer. If one participant is particularly critical of plans, invite him/her to be part of the planning process. Avoid automatically caving to excessive protests or whiney behavior. Have the trip organizer post a group chat vote if necessary.
- DON’T stifle your ideas or opinions, then be angry that your agenda was not executed during the trip. Share your ideas. Decide how important they are to your family. If the whole group is not interested, is it an event you may do with just your spouse and/or kids?
- DON’T hesitate to say “no.” Not every event will be suitable for all. It is okay to sit one out. Establish that there will be no hard feelings if someone hates sushi, fears jet skiing, or dislikes loud music. To each their own.
